Emmy Award-winning cinematographer John Bartley has joined the cast and crew of ‘Vikings’, the Irish co-produced mini-series which begins filming at Ashford Studios in Co Wicklow next month.

The US cinematographer, best known for his work on ‘The X Files’, ‘21 Jump Street’ and ‘Lost’, will serve as the director of photography on the nine-part series, working alongside directors Johan Renck (Breaking Bad) and Ciaran Donnelly (The Tudors). Donnelly’s involvement with the History Channel series is expected to be confirmed later this week.

Bartley worked as director of photography on 72 episodes of ‘The X Files’ from 1993 to 1996, winning an Emmy for his work on the series in 1996. He has since worked on TV series’ ‘Roswell’, ‘Glory Days’, ‘Undercover’ and ‘Lost’, as fell as feature films ‘Wrong Turn’ and ‘Eight Legged Freaks’.

The €30m ‘Vikings’ series is currently in pre-production at Ashford Studios and is due to begin filming in the second week of July. Irish producer Morgan O’Sullivan’s World 2000 Entertainment will co-produce the series alongside Canada’s Take 5 Productions. The shoot is expected to last 18-weeks in total with the series due to go to air in 2013.

Irish actor Gabriel Byrne (The Usual Suspects) will play Earl Haraldson, a political leader whose position is threatened by young descendant of the gods, Ragnor Lothbrok, who is attempting to become King of the Vikings.

English actor George Blagden (Wrath of the Titans) has also been confirmed to play Athelstan, an Anglo-Saxon monk captured by Ragnar during a raid in England.

The series will chart the destructible behaviour of the powerful Norsemen who raided their way through Europe in medieval times.

Irish crew so far attached to the project include line producer Séamus McInerney, costume designer Joan Bergin and production designer Tom Conroy.